Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

Once the proclamation was drafted, it was stamped with the seals of the Grand Marshal and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and dispatched by express courier to deliver it to various prefectures in Ji Province at an urgent speed of 800 li.

At the same time, Lü Bu appointed Zhang Ji, the governor of Hongnong, as the governor of Ji Province, and Zhao Yun as the commander of the Ji Province Army Group, giving him overall command of the military and political affairs of Ji Province.

"Zhang Ji has long been stationed in Hongnong; he is experienced and prudent. Zilong is loyal and brave; he is capable of undertaking great responsibilities." Lü Bu said to Cheng Yu, "Ji Province has just been pacified; we need to appease the gentry, reorganize the surrendered soldiers, and restore the people's livelihood. I entrust this matter to the two of them; they must handle it properly."

Cheng Yu accepted the order: "Yes, sir. I will draft the document and send it out immediately. Zhang Ji and Zhao Yun will certainly live up to our lord's trust!"

Subsequently, Lü Bu continued to lead several thousand cavalrymen, along with generals such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, on a lightly armed and swift journey north to Bohai Commandery in Ji Province.

After news of Yuan Shao's defeat and death spread, the counties and prefectures of Ji Province lost all will to resist. Wherever the imperial edicts arrived, the city guards opened their gates, presented their household registers and grain records, and knelt to welcome the imperial army.

In some counties, people even cleared the streets in advance and organized the masses to line the streets to welcome him. The people were willing to do so, their eyes filled with hope—they had heard that taxes were light under the rule of Duke Jin and that the people had enough to eat.

Several days later, the army arrived at Nanpi County, the capital of Bohai Commandery.

Unexpectedly, the city gates of Nanpi County were wide open, and the official road outside the city was lined with kneeling gentry and common people.

The leader, an elderly man with white hair, saw Lü Bu's army arrive and led the crowd in bowing: "The people of Bohai respectfully welcome the royal army of Duke Jin!"

Lu Bu reined in his horse, frowned, and asked, "What are you all doing here?"

The old man looked up and saw Gao Gong, the patriarch of the powerful Gao clan of Bohai: "Lord Jin Rong reports that the traitor Yuan Xi, having learned of his father's capture and his brother's escape, has already taken his valuables and sailed out to sea two days ago from the mouth of the Zhang River to pursue Yuan Tan. Now that there are no more Yuan clan troops in Bohai Commandery, we, the people, are all willing to submit to the imperial court!"

Lü Bu and Xun Yu exchanged a glance.

Another escape by sea?

"How many troops did Yuan Xi take with him?" Lü Bu asked.

"About 1,500 men, all elite soldiers skilled in swimming," Gao Gong said. "They also forcibly abducted several hundred women, saying... saying they were taking them overseas to breed offspring."

Zhang Fei cursed, "That Yuan family brat, even while running away, he didn't forget to steal a woman!"

Guan Yu squinted: "My lord, Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi have both fled overseas, which may become a hidden danger in the future."

Lu Bu, however, was unconcerned: "What trouble can they cause in these remote and uncivilized lands overseas? Once the Central Plains are pacified, we can send our navy to conquer them, and capturing those two will be as easy as taking candy from a baby."

He dismounted and helped Gao Gong to his feet: "Please rise, Lord Gao. Now that Bohai has submitted, it is a subject of our great Han. Issue an order to open the granaries and distribute grain to relieve the poor. Each family of the women forcibly conscripted by Yuan Xi shall receive ten shi of grain and one thousand coins as compensation."

"Duke Jin is wise!" the people shouted in unison.

When Lü Bu entered the city, he inspected the treasury. Yuan Xi fled hastily, taking only gold, silver, valuables, and some fine grain; he left most of the provisions and weapons behind. The inventory revealed 300,000 shi of grain, 30 million coins, 5,000 suits of armor, and over 10,000 bows and crossbows.

"That's enough to support the relief efforts in Jizhou," Cheng Yu said with a smile.

Lu Bu nodded, but looked eastward, thinking to himself, "Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi... I hope you two are going to the Japanese islands to avenge our Central Plains and expand our territory. Perhaps I can spare your lives in the future."

……

On the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, on the surface of the Yellow Sea.

More than twenty ships sailed through the waves. On the deck of the lead ship, Yuan Tan, wrapped in a fox fur coat, gazed at the vast sea, his face pale.

He has been vomiting for three days, and he has even vomited bile.

"Young master, please go into the cabin and rest," Xin Ping advised.

Yuan Tan shook his head: "Where are we?"

"We've passed Donglai and are heading towards Lelang." Xin Ping pointed to the nautical chart. "At this speed, we should reach Liekou County in Lelang Prefecture by the end of December."

Yuan Tan smiled bitterly: "To think that I, Yuan Xiansi, a descendant of four generations of high-ranking officials, have fallen to the point of fleeing overseas..."

"My lord, do not be discouraged," Xin Ping comforted him. "Although the overseas regions are remote, they have no powerful enemies. With your talent, my lord, it is not impossible to unite the Three Hans and the Japanese islands and establish a kingdom. When things change in the Central Plains, you may be able to make a comeback."

Even Xin Ping himself didn't believe this.

Lü Bu's power was at its zenith; unifying the world was only a matter of time. Their escape overseas was merely a precarious existence.

Just then, a sailor on the watchtower shouted, "A convoy is behind us!"

Yuan Tan was startled: "How many people?"

"About thirty ships, bigger than ours!"

Xin Ping urgently ordered: "Full speed ahead, prepare for battle!"

However, the fleet behind was faster, and within an hour, it had caught up to within visual range.

Yuan Tan climbed to the top of the ship and looked into the distance. He saw a large flag with the character "Yuan" fluttering on the flagship of the approaching ship.

"It's my second brother!" Yuan Tan was both surprised and delighted.

Sure enough, as the fleet approached, Yuan Xi stood at the bow and shouted, "Brother, it's me!"

The two boats were moored side by side, and they boarded the gangplank.

Yuan Xi quickly crossed the boat, and the brothers met and embraced, weeping bitterly.

"Second brother, what are you doing here?" Yuan Tan asked.

Yuan Xi wiped away his tears: "Father was captured, and my elder brother fled. I was left all alone in Bohai. Hearing that my elder brother was leaving by sea, I searched the Nanpi treasury, taking all the gold, silver, and grain I could carry, and sailed to catch up with him. Fortunately, I caught up with him!"

Yuan Tan surveyed the fleet behind his brother, which was much larger than his own, with ships piled high with chests and boxes, and soldiers full of energy.

How many people did you bring?

"Eighteen hundred elite soldiers, thirty chests of gold and silver, and enough rations for half a year," Yuan Xi said. "There are also three hundred women, all carefully selected."

Xin Ping, Guo Tu, and others also met on the boat.

The group gathered in the cabin to discuss matters.

Yuan Xi first described the situation in Bohai: "When I left, Lü Bu had already arrived in Bohai. The noble families, including Gao Gong, had long harbored rebellious intentions. Once I left, they would surely open the city gates and surrender."

"As expected," Yuan Tan sighed. "Now, you and I, brothers, are down to only two or three thousand men. Where should we go?"

Guo Tu said, "Lelang Commandery belongs to Gongsun Du. This man controls the three commanderies of Liaodong, Xuantu, and Lelang, and calls himself the Governor of Pingzhou. He may have ambitions to establish a separatist regime. You may go and join him, borrow his territory to rest and recuperate, and then plan your next move."

Xin Ping shook his head: "Although Gongsun Du has established his own independent regime, judging from his recent actions, he still outwardly submits to the court. Lü Bu is too powerful; how could he dare to take us in? In my opinion, it would be better to go straight to the Three Hans or the Japanese islands, seize a piece of land, and establish ourselves as kings."

Yuan Xi pondered, "The Three Hans and the Japanese islands are all barbaric lands, and the natives are ignorant. It wouldn't be difficult for our elite troops from the Central Plains to occupy them. However, the supply of food and the replenishment of troops are both problems."

"We can try to find out first in Lelang," Yuan Tan decided. "If Gongsun Du is willing to take us in, that would be best; if not, we'll go to the Three Hans."

The plan was finalized, and the fleet was merged, consisting of more than fifty ships and over three thousand people, sailing majestically towards Lelang.